From the Sun-Times
August 15, 1990
Gas prices jump for Smyrna-Clayton drivers
By Michelle Lewis, staff writer
Drivers in the Smyrna-Clayton area have been paying more for unleaded gas, say local gas station owners, due to the fact that they are experiencing an increase from their distributors.
The recent invasion of Kuwait by neighboring country Iraq has put the price of oil to large companies, and then the price of gas to customers, in an unsettled situation....
Within a four-day period, excluding the weekend, gas station prices for regular unleaded at six local gas stations ranged from $1.26 to $1.09 a gallon....
Clayton council hire policeman; still plagued by vacant seat
By John Flood
The wait for a new police chief is over for residents of Clayton, but the wait continues for a fifth town councilperson.
Mayor Jim Carson swore in Sandy Shaner as police chief at Monday’s council meeting. Shaner, 42, retired in June as a detective with the Delaware State Police at Troop 3 in Dover after 20 years of service.
He will be working a 40-hour week on a changing schedule including both day and night work....
Judging from the complaints that have been filed in his first week, “this town has really needed a police officer,” said Shaner. Clayton has been without a local police force since last fall....
Clayton has made progress as far as its police department is concerned, but filling the fifth council seat is another matter. A report by Town Attorney William Witham gave little hope for an early resolution of the stalemate that has left a council seat vacant since the resignation of Steve Faulkner last May.
At its last meeting, council has decided to hold a special election to fill the council seat, with Witham researching the matter to make sure that the council could hold such an election. In Witham’s opinion, the council cannot.
Witham gave council three options – leave the spot empty until council reaches an agreement; amend the town charter to allow special elections; or hold a special election anyway but risk being taken to court over it.
The problem with amending the charter is that the General Assembly must approve all municipal charter changes, and it will not be back in session until next January....
Clayton Post Office grows, adds boxes to meet demand
By Susan Biro, editor
Current construction underway on the Clayton Post Office will mean a new ramp for the handicapped plus the addition of about 250 more boxes in the lobby, said Postmaster Dorothy Dempsey.
